A top GOP senator won’t vote for Trump attorney general nominee William Barr over concerns he’ll condone spying on US citizens

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) walks from a Republican Senate caucus meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 26, 2018.

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Joshua Roberts/Reuters

GOP Sen. Rand Paul said he will not vote to confirm President Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee William Barr.

Paul cited Barr’s stance on government surveillance in justifying his position.

Barr is still expected to be confirmed later this week.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul has indicated he will not vote to confirm President Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee William Barr due to concerns over privacy issues.

“I’m a no,” Paul said on Monday. “[Barr has] been the chief advocate for warrantless surveillance of US citizens. I think that the Fourth Amendment should protect your phone calls and your bank information. People shouldn’t be allowed to look at it without a warrant.”

In an interview with NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Paul said he’s unsettled by Barr’s views on the scope of executive power.

“I’m concerned that he’s been a big supporter of the Patriot Act, which lowered the standard for spying on Americans,” Paul said of Barr. “And he even went so far as to say, you know, the Patriot Act was pretty good, but we should go much further.”

“I can tell you, the first things that I’ve learned about him being for more surveillance of Americans is very, very troubling,” Paul added.